Blue Streaks' first N.Y. title since '99 ends frustration

By Sean Martin

Published 8:32 pm, Sunday, March 10, 2013

UTICA — For four years, the Saratoga Springs hockey team has been knocking on the door of a state championship.

Playing for the state title Sunday in front of a loud throng of supporters decked out in blue and white, the Blue Streaks didn't just knock on the door, they kicked it in.

Three years of frustration that included title game losses and 2010 and 2011 and an overtime defeat in the 2012 semifinals were washed away when Saratoga completed its title march with a 5-0 win over McQuaid Jesuit of Rochester at Memorial Auditorium.

Twin brothers Ryan and Matt Flynn each had two goals and combined for three assists to help Saratoga to its first state title since 1999.

"I'm still in shock, I don't know what to say," Saratoga coach Dave Torres said. "I'm standing here with my coaches saying we are New York State champions. I'm so proud of these guys, they've worked so hard all year."

As in Saturday's semifinal win over Niagara-Wheatfield, Saratoga (21-3-1) came out of the locker room flying, forcing mistakes by McQuaid (19-6-1). The first came when Ryan Flynn was hauled down on a breakaway at 6:01 and awarded a penalty shot.

Flynn calmly skated in on McQuaid goaltender Brian Kick and his shot hit the inside of Kick's left pad before trickling into the net to give Saratoga a 1-0 lead.

"I needed to score. I didn't really have a move going in," Ryan Flynn said. "I just wanted to see where it was open and that's where I was going to shoot it."

Later in the first, Tyler Bullard's outlet pass from the Blue Streaks blue line to Matt Flynn set up a 2-on-1 break for the Flynn twins and resulted in Ryan Flynn's second goal of the period at 11:52.

"Our Achilles heel all year has been coming out flat in the first period," Torres said. "The last few, in the playoffs, we've been coming out on fire."

The Blue Streaks outshot the Knights 9-3 in the second period and doubled the lead after Nick Winters rammed home a rebound at 7:11 with Saratoga on the power play and Matt Flynn scored on a rebound after Ryan Flynn's bid for the hat trick hit the post at 12:14.

Blue Streaks goaltender Dakota Smith had 17 saves in the win, recording his fourth shutout in Saratoga's six-game playoff run to the title.

"It feels great; my team helped me out a lot," Smith said. "I don't think we had one game where we allowed over 20 shots."

Seventeen players who were part of the 2012 semifinal loss suited up for Saratoga, including senior defenseman Brendon Wormley, who assisted on Winters' goal and has been a major component to the Blue Streaks' four-year run of success.

As the final horn sounded, Wormley ripped off his helmet and threw it and his gloves into the air before joining the jubilant celebration with his teammates.

"There's honestly no words right now," Wormley said. "This is the best day of my life."

Notes: Saratoga placed four players on the all-tournament team in Dakota Smith, Brendon Wormley, Ryan Flynn and Matt Flynn. Dave Torres was selected as Division I coach of the year and forward Tyler Bullard was named Division I player of the year.